| Pros | Cons | What's New |
|---|---|---|
Very budget-friendly | Not at all fuel-efficient | Now comes in only two trims |
Roomy cabin | Inline-4 engine feels sluggish | No more V6 engine available and 6-speed automatic transmission |
Cons list is bigger | Dated interior design | AWD drivetrain no longer available |
Missing the V6 a bit too much | Optional popular equipment group package | |
Poor safety features | ||
Outdated infotainment system |
$23,675
price173 hp @ 6000 rpm
horsepower165 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm
torque4-Speed Shiftable Automatic
transmission2.4L 4cyl FWD 4A
engine-
basic warrantyBack in 2009 when it launched, the Dodge Journey was the most affordable SUV in the states, and now the 2020 Journey is set to enter the 7-seater SUV arena with its low pricing to attract some buyers. At one point of time, the Journey was available in a plethora of trims and engine options like the V6, but now, it’s all washed down to just 2 trims and no engine choice, even the transmission and drivetrain options are limited.
Dodge Journey falls in the budget segment, and if leather upholstery or power sunroof isn’t something you crave for then the SE Value trim is the best choice for almost everyone. You won’t get a better engine or AWD setup in the top trim, so no point in spending $5k extra just for better wheels and leather upholstery. The SE Value with the Popular Equipment package gets you everything you want in a basic SUV.
All this means is Dodge is trying to sell off the inventory and the SUV is going to be axed from the lineup. This bare-bones SUV is trying to woo customers by coming at a cheaper price. By the looks of its interior and driving dynamics, rivals like Kia Sorento, Volkswagen Tiguan, and Mitsubishi Outlander are all sure to make the journey rough for the 2020 Dodge Journey.
Dodge cut down on the trims and engine options for 2020 Journey, which leaves us with just two trim levels, namely SE Value and Crossroad. The SE Value trim is ultimately basic, comes with features like steel wheels and a basic audio system. Surprisingly, the SUV does have a touch screen system but lacks Bluetooth or any other smartphone integration like Android Auto & Apple CarPlay. The top trim Crossroad thankfully is nicer and better with bigger touch screen and comfort features like the leather upholstery and power sunroof. The complete distribution of features across the two trims is given below.
|
Trim |
SE Value |
Crossroad |
|---|---|---|
|
MSRP (FWD) |
$23,675 |
$28,595 |
|
Key Features |
Manually adjustable seats with cloth upholstery |
In addition to or replaces Base trim features with: |
|
17-inch steel wheels |
19-inch aluminum wheels |
|
|
6-speaker audio system |
LED taillights |
|
|
Power folding mirrors |
Power sunroof |
|
|
4.3-inch touch screen |
Leather upholstery |
|
|
Automatic headlights |
8.4-inch touch screen with Bluetooth |
Apart from the standard features, there are optional packages that make it much better than what it is, and they aren’t expensive either. The Popular Equipment package for $1,550 gets you 3-zone automatic climate control, a 6-way power driver seat with heating function, leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel, etc. The same package on the Crossroad trim adds a 368-watt amplifier, 5-years of SiriusXM services, and a garage door opener.
Which Trim should you buy?
Dodge Journey falls in the budget segment, and if leather upholstery or power sunroof isn’t something you crave for then the SE Value trim is the best choice for almost everyone. You won’t get a better engine or AWD setup in the top trim, so no point in spending $5k extra just for better wheels and leather upholstery. The SE Value with the Popular Equipment package gets you everything you want in a basic SUV.
The 2020 Dodge Journey could have been a complete family solution if the fuel economy numbers were at least satisfactory. Sadly, the SUV gets the lowest fuel economy of 19 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway, resulting in a combined MPG of 21. This is the only time we are glad that we don’t have the optional V6 as it returned even lower economy on the previous year's SUV. With a large 20.5-gallon fuel tank on offer, it delivers an overall driving range of 512 miles on the highway.
|
Models |
2020 Dodge Journey |
2020 Volkswagen Tiguan |
2020 Mitsubishi Outlander |
2020 Kia Sorento |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MPG (City) |
19 |
22 |
25 |
22 |
|
MPG (Highway) |
25 |
29 |
30 |
29 |
|
MPG (Combined) |
21 |
25 |
27 |
25 |
|
Fuel Capacity (Gallons) |
20.5 |
15.3 |
16.6 |
18.8 |
|
Range (City/Highway/Combined, in Miles) |
389.5/512.5/430.5 |
336.6/443.7/382.5 |
415/498/448.2 |
413.6/545.2/470 |
It's not the engine that’s at fault, and Mitsubishi is a living example of that, the same 2.4L engine returns the best-in-class economy, well the 500lbs light body could be the key here. Kia and Volkswagen both share the same economy, but what Kia has squeezed out of the naturally aspirated engine, it could have done much better if they strapped on a turbo. Dodge Journey has the least fuel economy in the lot, but the brand has put in a large 20.5-gallon fuel tank as a compromise. The 2020 Tiguan has the smallest tank in the lot, and that affects its driving range by quite a margin.
The 2020 Journey is a 7-seater SUV, and so the overall passenger space is ample. The dashboard design is simple and practical with some intelligent design touches for the switch layout. Moreover, the plastic panels are soft to touch and are of acceptable quality. The 8-inch touch screen on the top trim does elevate the overall tech side of things in this cabin. The front seats get cloth upholstery but are comfortable for longer slow-paced journeys and come with heating and a 6-way power adjustment for the driver.
The second row has good headroom and legroom, but the A/C vents that are installed in the roof make the cabin feel a little cramped as the mechanicals eat up the roof space. Get the power sunroof, and you will further shrink the headroom. The third-row space is a similar story to most of the low-end SUVs, it's best left for kids. You can fit some teens in here, but then you will have to stretch the second row forward, compromising on their legroom. For a family of 4, this cabin is more than enough but anything more than that makes it awkward for everyone.
|
Models |
2020 Dodge Journey |
2020 Volkswagen Tiguan |
2020 Mitsubishi Outlander |
2020 Kia Sorento |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Seating Capacity |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
|
Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
40.8/57.5/40.8 |
39.6/57/40.2 |
40.6/56.4/40.9 |
39.5/59.1/44.1 |
|
Second Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
39.9/56.9/36.1 |
39.1/55.9/36.5 |
38.4/56/37.3 |
39.3/58/39.4 |
|
Third Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
37.7/43.5/23.4 |
33.8/47.8/27.9 |
35.7/50.4/28.2 |
36.3/52.8/31.7 |
|
Cargo Capacity (cu ft) |
10.7 |
12 |
10.3 |
11.3 |
All the SUVs come with 7 seat accommodation, but their interiors vary a lot. The Volkswagen Tiguan, being the European entry, has a modest yet classy feeling interior, and the seats are nicely contoured. The Mitsubishi Outlander has a little less wide seats on the second row, so having 3 back in there is a no-go. Kia Sorento has ample room in the second row, and seats are bolstered as well for optimum comfort. The cargo storing capacity of the Journey is not that great with just 10.7 cubic feet with all the seats up, but it is decently sized with the third row folded down at 37 cubic feet. The liftgate on the SUV opens up high and wide, and the load height is decent. Standout interior features include:
The 2020 Journey gets a 4.3-inch touch screen display along with a 6-speaker sound system on the base trim. The top trim gets an 8.4-inch touch screen as standard, which was an option on the previous iterations. The smaller touch screen does take you back in time with that older software, but that works flawlessly without any nonsense. The bigger screen would have gotten your hopes high but get ready to be disappointed as it doesn’t get any kind of smartphone integration like Android Auto & Apple CarPlay. Well, some might say that you get what you pay for, but there are better systems on offer. Standout infotainment features include:
The 2020 Dodge Journey looks almost similar to the one launched in 2009. Well, it has got a refresh a few years ago, so there aren’t any noticeable changes for this year. The overall design language has a mix of family van and SUV. The base trim looks pretty bland with steel wheels and plastic hubcaps, but the Blacktop package makes things better with 17-inch alloy wheels and a blacked-out grille, headlights bezel, and wheels.
The Crossroad trim is the better-looking journey of the two; it gets LED taillights and body-colored mirrors. The overall design is still isn’t that bad and still has some strong SUV design elements like straight body lines and boxy body panels. Well, it's really due for a proper cosmetic refresh as this design is really losing its grip over aggressively designed rivals. The SUV has a curb weight of 3,818 lbs and stands 7.2 inches above the ground.
|
Models |
2020 Dodge Journey |
2020 Volkswagen Tiguan |
2020 Mitsubishi Outlander |
2020 Kia Sorento |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Curb Weight (lbs) |
3818 |
3757 |
3329 |
3810 |
|
Length (inches) |
192.4 |
185.1 |
184.8 |
189 |
|
Width (inches) |
72.2 |
72.4 |
71.3 |
74.4 |
|
Height (inches) |
66.6 |
66.3 |
67.3 |
66.3 |
|
Ground Clearance (inches) |
7.2 |
7.9 |
8.5 |
7.3 |
|
Wheelbase (inches) |
113.8 |
109.8 |
105.1 |
109.4 |
Dodge Journey is the longest SUV today in overall length and wheelbase. Kia Sorento has the widest overall body, making it a better place to be inside. Both Tiguan and Sorento have decent wheelbase, giving them a stable ride on the highways. When comparing the curb weight, the Journey is the heaviest, although by a margin of just 8 lbs and the Sorento stands close by with a curb weight of 3,810 lbs. Standout exterior features include:
The Federal agency like the NHTSA has given the Journey 4-stars for overall safety, while it gets 5-stars for side crash tests, even the rollover rating is very good at 4-stars considering this SUVs wobbly nature. In the IIHS tests, the SUV did okay with a Poor rating on the front overlap test, but in the rest of the categories, it did well and got a Good rating. Dodge hasn’t fully bestowed their SUV with active safety features considering the 2020 standards, let's see what features do we have here. Standout safety features:
There is no solid comparison between these two SUVs. The Sorento has a better interior, better power, and even comes with an option for the V6 engine. The fuel economy as well is better on the Kia. The infotainment system on the Sorento gets smartphone integration, while the Dodge is left hanging on just Bluetooth. If you want a feature-packed value for money SUV, then the Sorento is a solid option to wishlist.
The 2020 Tiguan has everything better than the Dodge Journey. It accelerates much better and gets a turbocharged engine as standard. It even beats the Dodge SUV in standard cargo space, but with seats down, both are quite similar. The Tiguan features better build quality, and the safety features that come standard are much better. For $1,000 extra, you get a better interior and better performance. All in all, the best value-for-money package is the Volkswagen Tiguan.
In the base trims, both the SUVs are bare-bones, but the Outlander keeps getting better and better in the higher trims. It gets all the infotainment features a 2020 SUV needs and gets fairly luxurious if you spend more. What the Outlander lacks is the horsepower, but if your need doesn’t require a V6 power, then you might do fine. So, take it for a test spin and see if you can cope up with that engine.
Well, the 2020 Dodge Journey is a practical SUV keeping ergonomics and economy in mind. It comes with really basic features, and after some mandatory options, it might seem like a good deal, and it is to an extent. However, the kind of features and performance rivals are offering should make you think at least twice. The 2020 Journey is fine for most people but again that lethargic performance doesn’t even aid fuel economy. There are better, fuel-efficient, and cozy alternatives available, so take a look at all the options before finalizing.
Car Name | 0-60 MPH | Quarter Mile | Top Speed | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 Dodge Journey Ranked #21 | 11 sec | 17.9 sec | - | |||
2020 Ford Explorer Ranked #1 | 5.9 sec | 14.4 sec | 142 mph | |||
2020 Honda Passport Ranked #2 | 6.1 sec | 14.7 sec | 112 mph | |||
2020 Honda Pilot Ranked #3 | 6.8 sec | 15.3 sec | 132 mph | |||
2020 Mazda CX-9 Ranked #4 | 6.9 sec | 15.4 sec | - | |||
2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ranked #5 | 7 sec | 15.4 sec | 114 mph |
Car Name | MPG City | MPG Highway | MPG Combined | Fuel Tank Capacity | Range (C/H) | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 Dodge Journey Ranked #11 | 19 mpg | 25 mpg | 21 mpg | 20.5 gal. | 389.5/512.5 mi. | |||
2020 Mazda CX-3 Ranked #1 | 29 mpg | 34 mpg | 31 mpg | 12.7 gal. | 368.3/431.8 mi. | |||
2020 Ford Escape Ranked #2 | 27 mpg | 33 mpg | 30 mpg | 14.8 gal. | 399.60/488.40 mi. | |||
2020 Nissan Rogue Ranked #3 | 26 mpg | 33 mpg | 29 mpg | 14.5 gal. | 377/478.5 mi. | |||
2020 Subaru Outback Ranked #3 | 26 mpg | 33 mpg | 29 mpg | 18.5 gal. | 481/610.5 mi. | |||
2020 Chevrolet Equinox Ranked #4 | 26 mpg | 31 mpg | 28 mpg | 14.9 gal. | 387.4/461.9 mi. |
Car Name | Length | Width | Height | Ground Clearance | Wheelbase | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 Dodge Journey Ranked #9 | 192.4 in. | 72.2 in. | 66.6 in. | 7.2 in. | 113.8 in. | |||
2020 Mazda CX-9 Ranked #1 | 199.4 in. | 77.5 in. | 69 in. | 8.8 in. | 115.3 in. | |||
2020 Ford Explorer Ranked #2 | 198.8 in. | 78.9 in. | 69.9 in. | 7.9 in. | 119.1 in. | |||
2020 Nissan Pathfinder Ranked #3 | 198.5 in. | 77.3 in. | 69.5 in. | 7 in. | 114.2 in. | |||
2020 Kia Telluride Ranked #4 | 196.9 in. | 78.3 in. | 68.9 in. | 8 in. | 114.2 in. | |||
2020 Honda Pilot Ranked #5 | 196.5 in. | 78.6 in. | 70.6 in. | 7.3 in. | 111 in. |
Car Name | Trunk Capacity | Passenger Volume | Max Trunk Volume | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 Dodge Journey Ranked #10 | 10.7 cu.ft. | 123.7 cu.ft. | 67.6 cu.ft. | |||
2020 Toyota 4Runner Ranked #1 | 47.2 cu.ft. | - | 89.7 cu.ft. | |||
2020 Kia Telluride Ranked #2 | 21 cu.ft. | - | 87 cu.ft. | |||
2020 Hyundai Palisade Ranked #3 | 18 cu.ft. | 155.3 cu.ft. | 86.4 cu.ft. | |||
2020 Toyota Highlander Ranked #4 | 16 cu.ft. | 141.3 cu.ft. | 84.3 cu.ft. | |||
2020 Ford Escape Ranked #5 | 33.5 cu.ft. | 104 cu.ft. | 65.4 cu.ft. |
Car Name | Cargo Volume | Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area | Max Cargo Volume | Bed Length | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 Dodge Journey Ranked #1 | 70.6 cu.ft. | 10.7 cu.ft. | 67.6 cu.ft. | - | |||
2020 GMC Terrain Ranked #2 | 63.3 cu.ft. | 29.6 cu.ft. | 63.3 cu.ft. | - | |||
2020 Mazda CX-3 Ranked #3 | 4.4 cu.ft. | 17.8 cu.ft. | 42.7 cu.ft. | - | |||
2020 Jeep Compass Ranked #4 | - | - | 59.8 cu.ft. | - | Jeep USA | ||
2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Ranked #5 | 13.4 cu.ft. | 10.3 cu.ft. | 63.3 cu.ft. | - | |||
2020 Honda Passport Ranked #6 | 77.7 cu.ft. | 41.2 cu.ft. | 77.9 cu.ft. | 42 ft. |
Car Name | Towing Capacity | Payload Capacity | Weight | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 Dodge Journey Ranked #11 | 1000 lbs. | 1482 lbs. | 3818 lbs. | |||
2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ranked #1 | 6200 lbs. | 1180 lbs. | 4513 lbs. | Jeep USA | ||
2020 Ford Explorer Ranked #2 | 5300 lbs. | 1425 lbs. | 4345 lbs. | |||
2020 Nissan Pathfinder Ranked #3 | 5000 lbs. | 1699 lbs. | 4287 lbs. | |||
2020 Hyundai Palisade Ranked #3 | 5000 lbs. | 1605 lbs. | 4127 lbs. | |||
2020 Kia Telluride Ranked #3 | 5000 lbs. | 1528 lbs. | 4248 lbs. |
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User Overall Rating
Posted On: July 28, 2024
The dodge journey has a 2.4 liter engine which the pick up speed is not all that great. As for the performance, the dodge journey runs great and drives great when it's not stuck in the shop with all the mechanical issues. It's a good vehicle but it could be a whole lot better.
